Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic polyarticular arthritis that primarily affects the small joints but also causes bone erosion in large joints. None of the currently existing treatment approaches is curable. In this study, the effects of human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice are examined by experimentally assessing the microstructure and mechanical behaviors of tibia. Bone morphology and mineral density of mouse tibiae were assessed using micro-X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT). Compression testing was performed on mouse tibia to access its stiffness. The deformation and strain localized inside proximal tibia were mapped using mechanical testing coupled with micro-CT and digital volume correlation of micro-CT images. The results show that CIA disease caused bone erosion in epiphyseal cortical bone, which manifested into the adjacent epiphyseal trabecular bone, and also affected the metaphyseal cortical bone. CIA disease also weakened the load-bearing function of proximal tibia. GMSC treatment interfered with the progress of CIA, attenuated the bone erosion in epiphyseal and metaphyseal trabecular bone and resulted in improved load-bearing function of proximal tibia. GMSCs provide a promising potential treatment of autoimmune arthritis.

类风湿性关节炎 (RA) 是一种全身性多关节关节炎，主要影响小关节，但也会导致大关节骨侵蚀。目前存在的治疗方法都无法治愈。在这项研究中，通过实验评估胫骨的微观结构和机械行为，研究了人牙龈来源的间充质干细胞 (GMSC) 对胶原性关节炎 (CIA) 小鼠的影响。使用微 X 射线计算机断层扫描 (micro-CT) 评估小鼠胫骨的骨形态和矿物质密度。对小鼠胫骨进行压缩测试以了解其刚度。使用机械测试结合显微 CT 和显微 CT 图像的数字体积相关性，绘制了位于胫骨近端内部的变形和应变。结果表明，CIA病引起骨骺皮质骨侵蚀，表现为邻近的骨骺骨小梁，同时累及干骺端皮质骨。CIA疾病也削弱了胫骨近端的承重功能。GMSC 治疗干扰了 CIA 的进展，减轻了骨骺和干骺端小梁骨的骨侵蚀，并改善了胫骨近端的承重功能。GMSCs 为自身免疫性关节炎提供了一种有前途的潜在治疗方法。减轻骨骺和干骺端小梁骨的骨侵蚀，改善胫骨近端的承重功能。GMSCs 为自身免疫性关节炎提供了一种有前途的潜在治疗方法。减轻骨骺和干骺端小梁骨的骨侵蚀，改善胫骨近端的承重功能。GMSCs 为自身免疫性关节炎提供了一种有前途的潜在治疗方法。